The trade winds that once lured explorers to “Islas Afortunadas” are calling again—this time for travellers eager to swap grey skies for volcanic gold. From November 2026 to January 2027, Windstar Cruises’ four-masted Wind Spirit launches a nine-night Canary Islands cruise series that threads lesser-visited gems such as Porto Santo and El Hierro with iconic ports like Tenerife and Madeira. Think camel treks on Lanzarote’s lunar plains by day, front-row seats to Madeira’s legendary New Year fireworks by night, and teak-deck stargazing under some of the clearest skies on Earth.
Windstar introduces two thousand kilometres south-west of mainland Europe, each island tells its own dramatic story of lava, trade routes and seafaring myths.
Portugal’s “Golden Island” stretches not much longer than a runway, yet its eight-kilometre beach glows like powdered amber. Follow Christopher Columbus’s footsteps through the whitewashed village museum before hiking the Portela viewpoint for Atlantic panoramas that seem to float above the horizon. Afterwards, a poncha cocktail at a thatched chiringuito seals the island-time spell.
Spain’s smallest Canary outpost is a UNESCO Global Geopark where twisted juniper forests tumble into natural lava pools. Guests join local guides along El Mirador de Isora for sunrise, then plunge into crystal-clear Charco Azul pools—volcanic cauldrons repurposed as ocean spas. Evening brings smoky goat’s cheese and organic malvasía wines in Valverde’s slow-food tavernas.
On Timanfaya’s ochre slopes, dromedaries carry you across ash fields still warm from 18th-century eruptions. A few hours later, you’re sipping Malvasía in César Manrique’s cactus garden or ferry-hopping to car-free La Graciosa, where beach shacks serve octopus a la plancha while your toes dig into tangerine sand.
A recent refit has polished this 148-metre sailing yacht into cosy, contemporary perfection—ideal for fewer-than-150 fellow guests.
All staterooms sport new marine-inspired textiles, USB-charging headboards and rainfall showers. Up top, Candles Restaurant now offers wind-protected alfresco tables for filet mignon beneath sailcloth canopies, while the Compass Rose lounge pairs craft gin cocktails with jazz-duo sunsets.
In calm anchorages—Tenerife’s Los Cristianos Bay, Funchal’s harbour—the lowered stern platform becomes a water-sports playground. Complimentary paddleboards, kayaks and snorkel gear invite impromptu dips, and floating loungers mean you can sunbathe literally on the Atlantic.
Windstar’s “Shopping with the Chef” shoreside market tours precede regional tasting menus: papas arrugadas with mojo verde, Madeira’s black-scabbard fish in banana sauce, and the sweet almond bienmesabe of Gran Canaria. Paired wine flights spotlight boutique volcanic vineyards you’ll visit the next morning.
Windstar’s destination team curates small-group excursions that lean into culture rather than crowds.
Ride across Montañas del Fuego before chefs grill chicken over geothermal vents—proof the island still breathes fire. A César Manrique art tour follows, weaving architecture into lava tunnels.
From Funchal’s hilltop Monte church, white-uniformed carreiros steer wicker sledges down winding streets at 30 km/h—a tradition dating back to 1850. The adrenaline subsides with a private barrel-house tasting of century-old Malmsey.
At 2,400 metres, Roque de los Muchachos Observatory offers an exclusive stargazing session under Europe’s darkest skies. Astronomers map constellations once used by Portuguese navigators, enhancing your own night-sky photography back on deck.
Crowd-free cobblestones, 23°C afternoons and festive traditions that blend Spanish Catholic pageantry with island folklore—December in the Canaries feels like a secret whispered among seasoned voyagers. Gigantic belenes (nativity scenes) fill town squares; meanwhile rondallas de los Divinos serenade narrow lanes with Canarian folk songs well past midnight. Swap mulled wine for chilled listán blanco and snowdrifts for sand dunes—it’s holiday magic, re-imagined.
Before you lock in flights, explore every Wind Spirit sailing side-by-side in our interactive Cruise Finder. Filter by departure date, villa-style suite category or must-see port—then save favourites or share them with your travel circle in one click. You’ll also see live promotions, from Early-Bird inclusions to limited-time cabin upgrades.
And if your heart leans toward a grander Iberian adventure, expand your view. Cruise Finder lets you bolt on Barcelona city-stays, rail trips to Madrid or Star Collector back-to-backs that tie the Canaries to Morocco’s spice-scented souks. Dive in and start crafting an itinerary as individual as your travel style.
Windstar’s Early Booking Offer—available until 31 Aug 2025—adds unlimited select drinks, Wi-Fi, gratuities and up to US$200 (~AUD 300) onboard credit per stateroom, while the Pay Now, Save More deal lops an extra 5% off fare for those who settle in full. Together, the perks are worth over US$1,300 (~AUD 1,950), turning that cocktail-clinking New Year’s Eve off Madeira into exceptional value.
Ready to trade frosty mornings for volcanic warmth? Contact our cruise experts and we’ll tailor the perfect itinerary, flights and pre-cruise island stays so all you need to pack is sunscreen and curiosity.